Which songs by The Strokes have been covered by Arctic Monkeys?
The dawn of a new century brought with it the dawn of indie, as guitar-driven bands donning skinny scarves and even skinnier jeans pushed their way into the mainstream. At the centre of this movement were The Strokes. Led by Julian Casablancas, they forged a scuzzy sound marked by garage rock influences and a nostalgic lo-fi quality. By the mid-2000s, Casablancas and his bandmates had secured the envy of indie kids worldwide, including future peers Arctic Monkeys.
“I just wanted to be one of The Strokes,” Alex Turner declares in the opening moments of ‘Star Treatment’. Arctic Monkeys may have honed a far more darkly romantic and characteristically British sound than the sleazy New York energy of The Strokes, but they have become equally revered and referenced within indie scenes.
Turner and Casablancas are two of the most suave and celebrated guitar music frontmen, each delivering some of the most important records in modern indie, permeating record collections and inspiring countless budding musicians to pick up a guitar.
Though he has garnered mammoth success in his own right as an indie icon, Turner has continually paid homage to his fellow frontman from across the Atlantic. Alongside referencing the influence of The Strokes in his own writing, the band have been covering tracks by the New York rockers during their live performances for years.
In a particularly old and low-quality live video of the famed frontman, Turner once covered ‘Reptilia’ for a small but enthusiastic audience in the early days of his career. The Arctic Monkeys leader somehow perfected both the guitar parts and the vocals, providing his own spin on the hit with his accented vocals.
During a 2007 performance at Taratata in France, Arctic Monkeys provided their take on the closing track from The Strokes’ beloved debut, Is This It. The cover is fairly faithful to the track, merely swapping out Casablancas’ agitated vocals for Turner’s. It’s an iconic clash of indie titans.
Over a decade later, Arctic Monkeys still paid homage to The Strokes onstage. Turner added his vocals to the titular track from the same record, ‘Is This It?’ in a far less lo-fi version of the track. While Casablancas’ original vocals sound casual and contain, Turner awards the song far more self-assured swagger as he leads the crowd in a sing-a-long of the indie classic.
The Strokes’ influence on guitar music was so potent, so it’s no surprise that it extended to the streets of Sheffield and inspired a future frontman in Turner. Each time he delivers an ode to his indie peers onstage, it’s a treat for fans of the genre and an exhibition of indie greatness.
